Category Archives: alternative pop

Nap Eyes’ indie-folk debut “Whine Of the Mystic,” now streaming on Soundcloud, was originally released in March 2014 on Bandcamp, and is thankfully getting a proper sendoff. Only 200 LPs were released then, via Plastic Factory Records.

Their ’60s pop sensibilities mix with indie-rock coolness on “Whine Of the Mystic,” backed by singer/guitarist Nigel Chapman’s pensive and bare vocals. Proof comes in the recording of the album, which was set down live to tape without overdubs.

The band, from Halifax, Nova Scotia, has been on tour with Ex Hex and Jacco Gardner at Northside Festival, and their popularity is slowing gaining strength. They hit Portland, Oregon tonight.

“Whine Of the Mystic” is out July 10 on Paradise of Bachelors in the U.S. and You’ve Changed Records in Canada.

After Ezra Furman hit gold with “Day Of the Dog,” he and his band The Boyfriends are back with the upcoming album “Perpetual Motion People.”

His latest song “Lousy Connection” is a mix of doo-wop, Britpop, 50s Vegas act, and all-around brashness. He drops imagery like it’s candy, mentioning writing a letter to Congress about things he thinks they should “address.” When he says he shows up in an Indian headdress and coyly says he thinks “the message was lost,” you know you’re in for some cheeky attitude and a fun time.

“Lousy Connection” is full of memorable storytelling lines that could all easily stand on their own.

“I”m out of money and I’m out of my mind… I’m all f*ckin’ mumbles…. a royal flush where all the faces are faded…” It’s all wrapped up in joyful, almost insanely happy brass notes. It’s one of the more unusually quirky songs so far this year, and it’s much welcomed.

You really must watch the video for “Restless Year,” which could pass for a 21st century version of “It’s the End Of the World As We Know It,” or “Shiny Happy People.” Furman speediy floats along a street, going through wardrobe changes and socializing, then says “when you catch my coattails I’ll be miles away.” You believe it.

Furman has a small tour that includes Rough Trade in New York on Aug. 5:

The blog Consequence of Sound is reporting that in Damon Albarn‘s recent interview with Sydney Morning Herald, he revealed that a new album with the group Gorillaz may materialize in 2016.

Albarn was speaking with the paper about his debut album, “Everyday Robots,” released earlier this year.

While that’s certainly not a hard and fast commitment, it’s at least a better hint than the stories in 2011 that Gorillaz was no more.

According to Consequence of Sound in an earlier interview, Albarn had said a new Gorillaz album was “unlikely.” The precariousness of the band was further evident in scuttlebutt that band member Jamie Hewlett allegedly felt like his animated work illustrating the virtual members was getting swept under the rug.

But as Albarn said, “in the music industry everything changes.”

Fans of Albarn’s other side project, Blur, may also find a glimmer of hope in words from Albarn that the band may be resurrected at some point, saying, “I would imagine there’s some kind of future.”

This morning Lorde dropped her new single to the Hunger Games soundtrack: “Yellow Flicker Beat.” It’s got Lorde written all over it, her honey-deep voice enunciating every syllable. It begins quietly and ends with an explosive dance beat that further cements her growing stardom.

More below:

Brace yourselves: Lorde is releasing a new single Monday, Sept. 29. Prepare for social-media implosion.

It’s only one song really, but hearing new music from the teen-alt dynamo for the first time since “Pure Heroin” is big news for Lorde fans.

According to a story at Consequence of Sound, Lorde wrote the song, “Yellow Flicker Beat,” for “The Hunger Games-Mockingjay Part 1” movie soundtrack. “Hunger Games” is set for release Nov. 21.

Another juicy snippet, according to Consequence of Sound — Lorde is allegedly working on new music with Kanye West.

But it was also rumoured not that long ago (August) that West and Paul McCartney were collaborating, and how is that going? Only time will tell.

For now, look for “Yellow Flicker Beat” on Monday or just check your local Twitter location.

Ryan Adams dropped a bomb this week, streaming his self-titled punk album in full, which then was almost immediately uploaded to Youtube.

His new album is his 14th, and his first in three years. It’s already been hailed as one of the best of the year, drawing comparisons by fans to Husker Du, Smiths and Damn the Torpedoes. That’s a heady mix, but the word is he’s done it in fine fashion.

“When I was in high school, I remember, on my Converse sneakers, on one side I had written ‘Social Distortion’, and on the other side I had written ‘Guns N’ Roses’. Somebody said, ‘Hey man, you can’t have both those bands on there; that’s punk and that’s metal.’ I was like, ‘Check this out: My pen just totally worked when I wrote them on either side of my shoe, and the cassettes are totally in my backpack right now, so it’s probably O.K.”

Alt-pop rockers Echosmith, fresh off their success on the Vans Warped tour, will join American Authors on the Honda Civic Tour that kicks off Oct. 1 in Reno.

While the band has room to grow, they’ve already impressed the masses with “Cool Kids,” and have been named an artist to watch by MTV. Their debut album “Talking Dreams” has also been called a breakout album.

Starting Nov. 12, the tour will hit major cities such as Chicago and New York, as well as smaller venues like Boise and South Burlington, Vt., so everyone can get a chance to catch this LA favorite.

Tickets go on sale Friday, Aug. 8 at 10 a.m.

Watch Echosmith’s performance on “Conan,” from June 5, as they performed their mellow hit, “Cool Kids.” For more, visit echosmith.com.